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Day 1: A Day at Mauna Kea Beach and Dinner at Roys

After being land-locked we are ready to hit our favorite beach, Mauna Kea. The sand is a smooth off white color and the water is crystal blue. The waves are usually mild (although that can change from time to time) which makes it great for swimming, floating on an air lounger, and snorkeling. There are some nice trees at the top of the beach that we like to sit under for shade. This shady spot also puts us close to well maintained restrooms and showers which is great if you are vacationing with kids. There is some nice snorkeling along the south edge of the bay, where you can easily swim from the shore and soon see some interesting ocean wildlife. We often see turtles hanging out and swimming across Mauna Kea.

The beautiful Mauna Kea Beach Hotel sits right on the beach. In fact they own the property around the beach, but in Hawaii, ALL beach is public, so anyone can enter. There is a catch, it is limited to the small parking lot that the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel provides, so you need to get there relatively early (usually before 10 am) in order to get a parking spot. You will be stopped at the guard station for the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, tell the guard that you would like to access the Mauna Kea Beach, and if there are available passes, they will give you one. Be warned: they will not offer a parking pass to the beach, you must request one, otherwise they will direct you to Hapuna State Beach Park. The good news is the beach is NEVER overcrowded. It is limited to the hotel guests and the small parking lot that is available to the public. You will also be able to purchase food at the hotel if you don’t want to bring along your own lunch. Check out Our Family Tips for Enjoying a Long Day at the Beach.

Dinner at Roy’s

After a sun filled day at Mauna Kea we find that we are ready to take it easy and head to one of our favorite restaurants, Roy’s located in the Kings Shops. It is Asian cuisine with an Hawaiian flare. My personal favorite is the Butterfish, it literally melts in your mouth. The atmosphere is nice and has windows that overlook some nice Hawaiian scenery. We enjoy walking through the art galleries that are located new Roy’s.

Our family tries to watch as many sunsets as possible in one vacation, and A-Bay is a great place to watch the sun go down. It is within walking distance of Roys. This beach is a salt and pepper beach (beach with dark and white sand) and has beautiful palm trees that add to the Hawaiian scene. A-Bay is also a great place to find several turtles sunbathing. The Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is located right on the beach and puts out many lounge chairs that you can sit on. If you have some extra time there is a long leisurely hike along the water front that runs from Outrigger Waujikia to the Hilton Waikoloa Resort. This hike, which takes about 15 minutes, will take you along some white coral beaches to some black lava rock beaches.